Divorce mediation is a popular alternative among couples that have decided to go their separate ways. Here we will look into five reasons why more and more divorcing couples are opting for mediation rather than litigation in their divorce process.
- It is cheaper and less time consuming than the traditional divorce process. By choosing divorce mediation, you will save a lot of money on lawyer’s fees. You will save a lot of time as well since most of the negotiations will be done in the office and not at the courthouse and since both parties are present during each mediation session This alternate method costs approximately 40% to 60% less than the conventional divorce litigation
- It affords confidentiality and more privacy. Unlike divorce litigation, where private family matters, such as the state of finances and so-called dirty laundry maybe aired out in public, the mediation process keeps everything strictly confidential. You will never have to fear that your statements could later be used against you in court. For the most part mediation sessions are kept strictly private.
- It gives you better control over the process. The ultimate goal of the mediation process is for you and your spouse to come to an agreement regarding the terms of your divorce. Together you will agree on how to divide your property and assign your debts, how to make major decisions regarding your children, how to share time with your children, and how to arrange alimony and child support. This allows you to determine your own and your children’s future without having to leave those important matters up to the lawyers or the judges. It gives you a unique opportunity to create a settlement agreement that is tailored specifically to your needs.
- It induces less emotional stress and upheaval than the conventional divorce proceedings. The fact that you and your spouse have chosen divorce mediation over divorce litigation already lessens your stress significantly. This is because you have decided as a couple that you are willing to do what it takes to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both of you. The whole mediation process, because it is private and more informal, is really less stressful than having to fight it out in court. You and your spouse will sleep better at night for sure, knowing that you are both cooperating with each other and working together to do what is best for you and your children.
- It has been proven to be highly beneficial to the children involved. Divorce mediation allows parents to come up with a mutually acceptable parenting plan that keeps the children’s best interests in mind. Research conducted by well known divorce researcher and mediator Dr. Robert Emery has shown that divorce mediation results in more parents being able to remain in close contact with children that are not in their custody and more harmonious relationships between exes. These benefits clearly make divorce mediation a viable alternative for couples seeking to dissolve their marriage.
